{
  "id": 9118958,
  "title": "Israel vs Ireland: Boycott calls, protests and the Nations League dispute explained",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/israel-vs-ireland-boycott-calls-protests-and-the-nations-league-9118958",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T09:09:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2026/09/22/israel-vs-ireland-boycott-calls-protests-and-the-nations-league-dispute-explained/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ireland national football team is set to play two UEFA Nations League matches against Israel, amid a contentious dispute between the two teams and public outcry in Ireland. Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson of the Irish team called the match \"playing against genocide,\" while the Israeli Football Association (FA) criticized him, accusing him of \"ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity.\"\n\nThe first match is scheduled for Sunday, with Israel designated as the home side. However, Israel is banned from hosting matches, so the game will be played in Debrecen, Hungary. The second match, set for October 4, will also be played at a neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia, as the FAI requested UEFA to move the game away from Dublin due to security concerns.\n\nBoth games will be played behind closed doors with no fans present. Following the announcement, calls for boycotts and protests against the match gained momentum in Ireland, as public opinion is strongly pro-Palestine. Over 160 Irish athletes and public figures signed an open letter urging the team to boycott the games, emphasizing the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and the loss of life there.\n\nThe dispute intensified when Hallgrimsson made his squad announcement, stating that they were \"playing against genocide.\" The Israeli FA responded by accusing Hallgrimsson of \"ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity.\" The FAI has not responded to those comments.",
  "summary": "The Ireland national team are set to fulfil a pair of Uefa Nations League games against Israel amid a war of words between the two camps and public outcry back home. The team's Icelandic head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson had said when announcing his squad that they were “playing against genocide,” while Israel's FA hit back on Monday, accusing him of “ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity\". The first…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/who-will-and-who-wont-be-talking-to-donald-trump-at-the-un-general",
        "published": "2026-09-22T04:05:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Mamdani: Netanyahu a 'war criminal, architect of genocide,' ICC arrest warrant should be honored",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mamdani-netanyahu-a-war-criminal-architect-of-genocide-icc-arrest",
        "published": "2026-09-22T07:32:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Mamdani calls for Netanyahu's arrest ahead of NYC visit for United Nations General Assembly",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mamdani-calls-for-netanyahus-arrest-ahead-of-nyc-visit-for-united",
        "published": "2026-09-22T07:35:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "Trump to address UN General Assembly as Carney becomes voice of multilateralism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/trump-to-address-un-general-assembly-as-carney-becomes-voice-of-9131256",
        "published": "2026-09-22T08:00:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Trump to address UN General Assembly as Carney becomes voice of multilateralism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/trump-to-address-un-general-assembly-as-carney-becomes-voice-of",
        "published": "2026-09-22T08:00:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "After cordial meeting with Trump, Mamdani decries ‘architect of genocide’ Netanyahu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/after-cordial-meeting-with-trump-mamdani-decries-architect-of",
        "published": "2026-09-22T08:01:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Israel vs Ireland: Boycott calls, protests and the Nations League dispute explained",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/israel-vs-ireland-boycott-calls-protests-and-the-nations-league",
        "published": "2026-09-22T09:09:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}